Fifth Year Anniversary Celebration: Where Are They Now?

By Marilyn Baron

Last year, I went to see Skyfall, the new James Bond thriller. At the end of the movie, they announced it was the 50^th anniversary of the franchise. I couldn’t believe it had been 50 years. How old did that make me? Don’t answer that. In going back over my records, I realized that the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales are about to enter our fifth year as a blog. Also hard to believe.

We published our first post on Dec. 28, 2008, and officially launched our new site on January 1, 2009. Back then, we had 19 members. The numbers have fluctuated. We’ve changed our look. We’ve honed our mission:

GREAT VOICES. GREAT CHOICES.

Hungry for a Great Read? The Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Blog serves up something for every taste—a selection of literary styles to satisfy any palate—from sweet inspiration to hot and spicy and everything in between. Find the voices that speak to you.

Members have come and gone for a variety of reasons, but to celebrate this special anniversary, we’ve invited some of our former members back to find out what they’ve been up to.

Nicki Salcedo. I received my second Maggie Award of Excellence; I had a baby; wrote a local parenting column for a year http://decatur.patch.com/columns/adventures-in-parenting-3;

was a RWA Golden Heart Finalist; and sold my first book to Belle Bridge Books for publication in 2013. I still blog when I can and hope to be a guest on PF&HT soon! I can be found online at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authornickisalcedo, Twitter https://twitter.com/NickiSalcedo, or It’s Only a Novel http://www.itsonlyanovel.com/2012/11/19/the-help-rue-and-me/

Tamara LeBlanc. I’ve been very fortunate over the past few years, and have much to be thankful for. I’m married to an amazing man that I love with all my heart, have two children I adore (one in college and the other in tenth grade) and just recently I acquired one of the best agents on the planet, Nicole Riscinitti of the Seymour Agency. Best wishes to all of you for a happy and healthy New Year!

Christine Glover. Since I left the PF&HT, I’ve been super busy with my writing. I completed another manuscript, triple finaled and won the Linda Howard Award of Excellence in 2012, and have received serious editorial interest from Harlequin Mills & Boon. A wonderful published writer read one of partials and recommended me to her editor over at Harlequin Mills & Boon. And since then I’ve worked with her on one story which, while not suited to the line, led to a request for a new partial. I completed that and sent it in. Now I wait for her reply. Does she want more? I hope so. But if now, I’m already busy writing a new story for the line. It’s been very exciting.

 I’ve also taken the time to get my very own Web site set up. Here’s the link: www.christinegloversite.com. It’s basic, but it pleases me tremendously. I have also taken on the mantle of overall contest coordinator for my Southern Magic Writing Chapter. Stay tuned for more information about the 2013 Linda Howard Award of Excellence Contest!!  I miss all my PF&HT sisters and wish you continued success. Hope to be a Guest Chef one day soon. Hugs to All!!

We have an exciting 2013 planned. We’ll start off the year with our anniversary party and end with free reads in December. In between, we’re offering our regular features: Recipe for Success Write-Off ;  Travelogues; Participation in the Brenda Novak Diabetes Auction; Guest Chefs (guest bloggers) every Wednesday; and we’re going to announce some new changes in the way we communicate to you.

Starting in February, join us in our new Southern Plantation home, where Magnolia Peach, our ‘house mama’ (Miss Maggie), the matriarch of the house, likes to fuss over guests and entertain. Miss Maggie will be offering a comfy chair, a willing ear and a tall glass of sweet iced tea to go with a steady supply of Hot Tamales, Petit Fours and a few delicious fixins in between. So stop by each day, enjoy our famous Southern hospitality and join the conversation. Pull up a chair on our verandah where love is always in the air. Stick around. Sit a spell and help us watch the kudzu grow. We’re storytellers, eager to share our space with friends, old and new.

We are so grateful for our wonderful readers and we’re thankful you are taking this journey with us.

One lucky commenter will receive a$10 Amazon gift card.